Do the odd jog? Don’t bother

DOING the odd bit of jogging “won’t cut it”, researchers have claimed, because you need to go five times a week to reap the full benefit.

Scientists found that high levels of physical activity dramatically slow up the ageing process by protecting against cell damage and can add almost a decade to a person’s life.

But the odd bit of exercise is not enough, they said. Women have to do a 30-minute jog five days a week, and men a 40-minute one, to get the benefit.

Prof Larry Tucker, of Brigham Young University in the US, said: “Just because you are 40, doesn’t mean you’re 40 years old biologically.

“We all know people who seem younger than their actual age.

“The more physically active we are, the less biological ageing takes place in our bodies.”

The study of almost 6,000 people found high levels of exercise protect bits of DNA called telomeres – proteins on the end of chromosomes that have been likened to the caps on shoelaces.

These were much longer in participants who had consistently high levels

said the decision to allow Australia to join the contest in 2015 could be the beginning of the end for Eurovision as we know it.

“Why aren’t New Zealand in the contest? Why isn’t Canada? I think a lot of countries are going to wonder why they can’t be involved if Australia can.

“I think, possibly, the day will come when there will be a Middle Eastern division of Eurovision,” she said.

Leskanich questioned why the UK, Spain, France, Germany and Italy should continue to pay higher fees to enter in return for a guaranteed place. She suggested the cost should be spread according to each country’s GDP.

In a separate interview, Jones, this year’s British entrant, said she had modest hopes. “I just don’t want to come last, really. If we get no points I’ll be disappointed, but anything else is going to be a win. All I’ve got to do is not go on and fall flat on my face, and hit a bum note,” she said.

Asked about the politics of Eurovision, and whether Brexit would affect the number of votes cast for the UK, Jones said: “It’s not something I’m thinking about.” u The BBC has added password controls to iplayer, forcing viewers to register in order to watch its programmes. From today iplayer users will need to provide the BBC with their name, date of birth email address and home address if they want to use the service.